New album PURPLE out December 18.
I wouldn't say they've lost it, they just mix it up more. They can still be very heavy, but they now juxtapose the heavy with softer parts. Makes them more dynamic. And they are definitely more melodic, which is a big improvement, in my view. For example, on "Tower Falls," the guitar riffs are amazing, but the vocals are just monotonous shouting. Now, the vocals are more anthemic -- but still rough and raw, it's not like the transition Opeth made from cookie-monster growls to soft, clean vocals. Their new drummer is also an upgrade. That said, if you just prefer relentless thrash to melodic hard rock, you probably should stick to the earlier stuff.They've lost much of their heaviness, haven't they?
cookie-monster growls
Probably because it sounds like crap. Not that the music is bad, but it is recorded badly with too much distortion. Evidently this is an artistic choice, but it bugs the hell out of me. When they post videos of these live performances, which are much cleaner sounding, the music is far easier to appreciate and enjoy, in part because it can actually be heard.I adore the two previous albums but the last one, I don't know, it didn't work for me.